Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Jeffery Simmons explains why he deactivated his social media accounts

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 12, 2023 2:54 PM ET

Intentional or not, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons made some waves when he scrubbed the Tennessee Titans from his social media accounts before deactivating them altogether in early March.

What many saw as playing hardball with the Titans during contract negotiations, Simmons clarified on Wednesday as simply a way for him to tune out the outside noise while he and the Titans hammered out a new deal.

“I know it was news, but my biggest thing was I wanted to eliminate myself from all the distractions because I was getting tagged in this, getting tagged in that,” Simmons said, via ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I think when it came down to it, that’s kind of the reason I deactivated my page because I wanted to focus on getting healthy, wanted to focus on working out and stuff like that. I didn’t mean to make it a big deal, of course it ended up being a big deal, but my goal was to just focus on myself.”

Jeffery Simmons says not once did he think of the future even when playing on his injured ankle half of last season. Didn't think of this day celebrating and signing his big extension with the #Titans. He made very clear he was focused on playing in 2022.
— Teresa Walker (@TeresaMWalker) April 12, 2023

Simmons and the Titans agreed to a four-year, $94 million extension on Friday, locking down the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle for the foreseeable future and making him the only first-round pick from former general manager Jon Robinson’s regime to reach a second contract in Tennessee.

In four seasons, Simmons has 189 tackles, 176 pressures, 125 hurries, 46 QB hits, 38 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, 19 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Since joining the Titans in 2019, Simmons ranks second on the team in sacks behind only Harold Landry.

“This was something that was a priority to get done,” Titans GM Ran Carthon told reporters on Wednesday. “There was never not a moment where we weren’t talking. Our first initial meeting to get something started came a little bit after the Senior Bowl. From that moment, we were diligently working to get this done.”

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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